55 nominees for FIFA FIFPro World11 2018 revealed

September 11, 2018 at 11:34 AM人民網

PARIS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- FIFA and FIFPro, the world players' union, announced a list of 55 nominees contending for the FIFA FIFPro World11 2018 on Monday, including all 11 players starting for Real Madrid in last season's UEFA Champions League final.

Voted by almost 25,000 professional footballers from 65 different countries and regions, the nominees' list includes ten of last year's World11, along with 11 new faces including Virgil van Dijk and Joshua Kimmich.

Each participating footballer should select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, based on players' performance between July 3, 2017 and July 15, 2018.

UEFA Champions League title holders Real Madrid are the most represented club with 11 players. As for national level, Spain have nine players featuring in the list, followed by world champions France with eight.

The World11 award has entered the 14th year since its inauguration by FIFPro in 2005 before being merged with FIFA in 2009.

The FIFA FIFPro World11 2018 will be announced at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on September 24.

One of the most eye-catching awards, the Best FIFA Men's Player has witnessed Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah into the final three contenders.